After rain and wet outfield played spoilsport on Day 2 and 3 of the Kanpur Test between India and Bangladesh, there was hardly anyone who thought that the match would produce a result.
However, the Rohit Sharma-led side played an aggressive brand of cricket to pull off a remarkable seven-wicket victory with a session to spare on the final day at the Green Park Stadium.
With this win, Team India also strengthened their position at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. They are currently firm-favorites to make it to the WTC final for the third consecutive time.
After the game, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali lauded the Indian cricket team and said that only Australia can compete with them in world cricket.
Not one to mince his words, Basit further stated that Pakistan is nowhere close to the Indian team.
“Fark aap dekh le India aur Pakistan ka fark. Yeh haqeeqat hai, isko maane. Agar aap issi soch me rahenge ki humari cricket bahut achchi hai, toh bekaar hai (Please notice the difference between India and Pakistan. This is the truth, accept it. If you keep thinking that our cricket is very good, then it’s a waste),” Basit said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“India ka muqabla bas Australia se hi hai, baaki aise hi hai. Mere khayal se 19th or 20th series jeeti hai (India’s only competition is Australia. I think they have won 19 or 20 series at home),” he added.
Reflecting on India’s unexpected victory in Kanpur, Basit Ali said that the opening stand between Rohit Sharm and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first innings was the turning point.
Notably, Rohit (23 off 11) and Jaiswal (72 off 51) set the tone with a 55-run stand in just 3.5 overs while the likes of Shubman Gill (39 off 36), Virat Kohli (47 off 35) and KL Rahul (68 off 43) carried on the demolition job to help the hosts gain a crucial 52-run lead.
“Day 4 turning point was Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s opening stand… On Day 5, after an hour of wicketless play, Bangladesh batters relaxed. Shanto’s reverse sweep dismissal and Shadnam losing his wicket after reaching 50 were crucial. These lapses in concentration sealed Bangladesh’s defeat. They could have taken the match to a draw,” he remarked.
Basit Ali also added that the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association members must have heaved a sigh of relief as India managed to win the match despite the poor drainage facilities at the Green Park Stadium.
“Do din me match ka faisla kar diya, Kanpur association wale bade khush honge, ki jaan bachi humari. Agar yeh match draw hota to BCCI action leta (Kanpur association people would be very happy that the match was decided in two days. BCCI would have taken action if the match had ended in a draw),” he said.
